The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-10-02

diararoI;s NAV nronerlv be called the Gateway
of the West. To-day the gate is thrown widely
open. with the wish that your entrance ana
soiourn mere may be as pleasant to you as 1t Is
to US; tina, your further journey beyond may be
safe and fortunate; and rest assured you Will
have the fervent wishes of the people OF Indiana
for your safety during every step of your
journey. coupled with the hope that you may
return to the Capital with health recuperated
and energies renewed for the discharge. OF the
responsible duties devolved you as the
chief magistrate OF this great Republic 1t IS
only to be regretted that lllustrlous citizen OF
our own State. whose path lay near your own IN
honor and service, is not here TO join the fecit-
atoms of an occasion which he would have so
much enjoyed.
ITO you, Mr.. President. as the guest of Indiana.
and in behalf of her TWO and a half millions OF
citizens, again bid you thrice weicometo the
State, and to the Inequalities of its ca pital."
Governor Gray then took his seat and tho
President responded follows;
Governor Gray and Fellow citizens-When
[ received q hearty invitation from the
people of Indianapolis, and through their Gov
ernor the invitation of the people of the State OF
indiana, to stop in my travel and see them and
their capital city. was not long III determining
that nv route should lead me this way. L ain
sincerely glad 20 have the opportunity, which
my short stay affords, the fair proportions
of your thriving and prosperous town
The citizens of the State OF Indiana have
abundant cause for congratulation in the vol
educational advantages their charitable lnstltu-
tions and all that contributes to the greatness of
a State. But it seems to me that not the least
cause for fndianian's bride should be his State
capital. First settled in 1910. year there
after ITS population numbered fifteen families:
chosen the seat of the Stats government IN
1921, it was about that time laid out town and
given itspresent name. though it had no incorpor-
alton until 1885, and did not receive city charter
ill 1547
Forty years growth has given it population
of at least hundred thousaod, and all the
business ACTIVITY that characterlzes prosperous
American city.
~ shall not dwell in detail upon the features
of your cty's tiourshinc condition, which are
daily under your observation. l am told by an
old resident that your capital can be directly
reached by railroad from every county In the
State excepting Two; and those who live here
must be very active and restless, or very social.
or both, for am onite sure that you will find
more miles of street railroad in Indianapolis
than in any other city of its size in the United
States,
'I must not omit to congratulate the peoplesof
Indiana and their capital UPON careful and
economical administration of their public AT
fairs. proof of this now beauties your city;
for am told that your spacious and handsome
State-house, inst completed, was actually built
within the limit of its expense originally fixed. In
these days of waste extravaganza and m!scai-
culation in regard to public buildings. this is a
thing so unusual that you may well be proud of
it. So far your city is concerned. it has been
quite lately reported having the lowest
tax rate of all the cities of the country with q
population of fifty thousand and upward. except
ing two
Il am at this moment much impressed with
another thought connected with this place. Its
suggestion cannot fail to awaken in your minds
affectionate ntlment, and its subject directs
the interested attention of the nation to this
spot. Here lived and died a man-your neigh
Dor and your friend-whose name was house
hold word throughout the land. trusted aud re-
spected by his fellow countrymen and by them
invested with the highest civic trusts. A loyal,
true son of your State, amid his honors he never
forgot the people of Indiana and his fellow towns
men of indianapolis. And while he loved You
we'll. he brought honor to You by his faithful
discharge Of the functions Of public office and by
q firm devorIon aud adherence to patriotic prin-
ciple. All will join you in the respect you
cherish for his memory. and the kindly. tender
thoughts Of the people of the land will always
turn to your city as the place where your dis
tngushed citizen lived and died, and where rest
his remains among the surroundings he so much
enjoyed.
with you as citizens of Indiana and Indianapolis,
but to be able to greet you the friends aud
neiehbors of a man honored by the nation, and
connected with me by ties OF friendship by the
fortunes of political life, and in the discharge of
public duty.
Most excellent order was maintained during
the address and the response. the only noticea-
ole noise near the stand being produced by
number of children to the east and back of it.
AS the President concluded three cheers for
him were proposed by the Hendricks Club and
heartily given, and as they ended he turned and
was presented to the ladies of the reception
committee. The party then moved into the
building in the same order that had been OBJ
served in approach.
AS the Hendricks Club moved into the build
ing. after the committee, the crowd closed in be-
hind them fast possible. The police
stationed across the approach made desperate
effort to stop them and almost succeeded in do
ing Several times policeman to
jump into the throng and clutch some one of the
more obstreperous citizens who were forthwith
dragged to one side and landed beyond the limits
of the crowd. Back of the police however
the crowd broke into tho lines of the colored
militia, and quickly filled the to the doors
of the Capitol the only break being On the
side where the Richardson rifles held their line
around the stand Colonel Ruckle took in the
situation quickly. He brought the colored com
panies around and out into the stand, whence
they dropped to the ground and pushed a line
across the approach the foot of the steps. The
police gradually fell back to this point,
and the crowd WAS forced 10
divide and pass in column of
tours at either side. The JAM however, was
terrible. Women came out of it looking like
they had heen strolling in cyclone. and a dozen
more of children were crying at the top of
their voices from fright and the rough jostling.
A great many people loft in despair
they could get free from the pack. but their
places were taken by new arrivals and the on
ward press toward the door maintained.
THE RECEPTION.